When they saw that the star had stopped, they were over- whelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Matthew 2:10, 11 “I am Balthazar. I have brought gold. I assure you, God exists. He is great and strong. Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors, Official Publication of Braden United Methodist Church That God exists. That love is everything. I know it is so because of the heavenly star. D_]_m\_r/Holi^[y Is-
The Braden Steeple Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors, Official Publication of Braden United Methodist Church Vol. V Vol. V Vol. V Vol. V D_]_m\_r/Holi^[y Is- The Braden Steeple will be printed and distributed to the membership of Braden United Methodist Church and the community during the months of January, March, May, July, September, November & a special Holiday issue in December. News articles are due by the 20th of the previous month the newsletter is printed. Send all material to: Communication Ministry Team, 4725 Dorr Street, Toledo, OH 43625 or contact the church office at 419-386-2700 Seek joy in what you give not in what you get When they saw that the star had stopped, they were over- whelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Matthew 2:10, 11 I am Gaspar. I have brought frankincense, and I have come here to say that life is good. That God exists. That love is everything. I know it is so because of the heavenly star. “I am Melchoir. I have brought fragrant myrrh. Yes, God exists. He is the light today. The white flower is rooted in the mud, and all delights are tinged with melancholy. “I am Balthazar. I have brought gold. I assure you, God exists. He is great and strong. I know it is so because of the perfect start that shines so brightly in Death’s diadem.” “Gaspar, Melchior, Balthasar: be still. Love has triumphed, and bids you to its feast. The Season of Advent Anticipation and Hope Advent is the beginning of the Church Year for most churches in the Western tradition. It begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day, which is the Sunday near- est November 30, and ends on Christmas Eve (Dec 24). If Christmas Eve is a Sunday, it is counted as the fourth Sun- day of Advent, with Christmas Eve proper beginning at sun- down. The Meaning of "Advent" The word Advent means "coming" or "arrival." The focus of the entire season is the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ in his First Advent, and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in his Second Advent. Thus, Advent is far more than simply marking a 2,000 year old event in history. It is celebrating a truth about God, the revelation of God in Christ whereby all of creation might be reconciled to God. That is a process in which we now participate, and the con- summation of which we anticipate. Scripture reading for Advent will reflect this emphasis on the Second Advent, including themes of accountability for faithfulness at His coming, judgment on sin, and the hope of eternal life. In this double focus on past and future, Advent also sym- bolizes the spiritual journey of individuals and a congrega- tion, as they affirm that Christ has come, that He is present in the world today, and that He will come again in power. Continued on page 2... Merry Christmas
Transcript
The Braden Steeple Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors,
Official Publication of Braden United Methodist Church
Vol. VVol. VVol. VVol. V D_]_m\_r/Holi^[y Is-
The Braden Steeple will be printed and distributed to the membership of Braden United Methodist Church and the community during the months of January, March, May, July, September, November & a special Holiday issue in December. News articles are due by the 20th of the previous month the newsletter is printed. Send all material to: Communication Ministry Team, 4725 Dorr Street, Toledo, OH 43625 or contact the church office at 419-386-2700
Seek joy in what you give not in what you get
When they saw that the star had stopped, they were over-
whelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the
child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid
him homage. Matthew 2:10, 11
I am Gaspar. I have brought
frankincense, and I have come
here to say that life is good.
That God exists. That love is
everything. I know it is so because
of the heavenly star.
“I am Melchoir. I have brought fragrant myrrh. Yes, God
exists. He is the light today.
The white flower is rooted in the mud, and all delights are
tinged with melancholy.
“I am Balthazar. I have brought gold. I assure you, God
exists. He is great and strong.
I know it is so because of the perfect start that shines so
brightly in Death’s diadem.”
“Gaspar, Melchior, Balthasar: be still. Love has triumphed,
and bids you to its feast.
The Season of Advent Anticipation and Hope
Advent is the beginning of the Church Year for most churches in the Western tradition. It begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day, which is the Sunday near-est November 30, and ends on Christmas Eve (Dec 24). If Christmas Eve is a Sunday, it is counted as the fourth Sun-day of Advent, with Christmas Eve proper beginning at sun-down. The Meaning of "Advent" The word Advent means "coming" or "arrival." The focus of the entire season is the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ in his First Advent, and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in his Second Advent. Thus, Advent is far more than simply marking a 2,000 year old event in history. It is celebrating a truth about God, the revelation of God in Christ whereby all of creation might be reconciled to God. That is a process in which we now participate, and the con-summation of which we anticipate. Scripture reading for Advent will reflect this emphasis on the Second Advent, including themes of accountability for faithfulness at His coming, judgment on sin, and the hope of eternal life.
In this double focus on past and future, Advent also sym-
bolizes the spiritual journey of individuals and a congrega-
tion, as they affirm that Christ has come, that He is present
in the world today, and that He will come again in power.
Continued on page 2...
Merry Christmas
Th_ Br[^_n St__pl_ D_]_m\_r/Holi^[y Issu_ 2009
The Season of Advent Anticipation and Hope continued That acknowledgment provides a basis for Kingdom ethics, for holy living arising from a profound sense that we live "between the times" and are called to be faithful stewards of what is entrusted to us as God’s people. So, as the church celebrates God’s in-breaking into history in the In-carnation, and anticipates a future consummation to that history for which "all creation is groaning awaiting its re-demption," it also confesses its own responsibility as a peo-ple commissioned to "love the Lord your God with all your heart" and to "love your neighbor as yourself." The Spirit of Advent Advent is marked by a spirit of expectation, of anticipa-tion, of preparation, of longing. There is a yearning for deliverance from the evils of the world, first expressed by Israelite slaves in Egypt as they cried out from their bitter oppression. It is the cry of those who have experi-enced the tyranny of injustice in a world under the curse of sin, and yet who have hope of deliverance by a God who has heard the cries of oppressed slaves and brought deliverance! It is that hope, however faint at times, and that God, however distant He sometimes seems, which brings to the world the anticipation of a King who will rule with truth and justice and righteousness over His people and in His creation. It is that hope that once anticipated, and now anticipates anew, the reign of an Anointed One, a Messiah, who will bring peace and justice and righteous-ness to the world. Part of the expectation also anticipates a judgment on sin and a calling of the world to accountability before God. We long for God to come and set the world right! Yet, as the prophet Amos warned, the expectation of a coming judgment at the "Day of the Lord" may not be the day of light that we might want, because the penetrating light of God’s judgment on sin will shine just as brightly on God’s people.
Evergreens and The Advent Wreath The beginning of Advent is a time for the hanging of the green, decoration of the church with evergreen wreaths, boughs, or trees that help to symbolize the new and ever-lasting life brought through Jesus the Christ. Some churches have a special weekday service, or the first Sun-day evening of Advent, or even the first Sunday morning of Advent, in which the church is decorated and the Advent wreath put in place.
The Advent wreath is an increasingly popular symbol of the beginning of the Church year in many churches as well as homes. It is a circular evergreen wreath (real or artificial) with five candles, four around the wreath and one in the center. Since the wreath is symbolic and a vehicle to tell the Christmas story, there are various ways to understand the symbolism. The circle of the wreath reminds us of God Himself, His eternity and endless mercy, which has no beginning or end. The green of the wreath speaks of the hope that we have in God, the hope of newness, of renewal, of eternal life. Candles symbolize the light of God coming into the world through the birth of His son. The four outer candles repre-sent the period of waiting during the four Sundays of Ad-vent, which themselves symbolize the four centuries of waiting between the prophet Malachi and the birth of Christ. The colors of the candles vary with different traditions, but there are usually three purple or blue candles, corre-sponding to the sanctuary colors of Advent, and one pink or rose candle. One of the purple candles is lighted the first Sunday of Advent, a Scripture is read, a short devotional or reading is given, and a prayer offered. On subsequent Sun-days, previous candles are re-lighted with an additional one lighted. The pink candle is usually lighted on the third Sun-day of Advent. However, different churches or traditions light the pink candle on different Sundays depending on the symbolism used. In Churches that use a Service of the Na-tivity, it is often lighted on the fourth Sunday of Advent, the final Sunday before Christmas.
The light of the candles itself becomes an important sym-bol of the season. The light reminds us that Jesus is the light of the world that comes into the darkness of our lives to bring newness, life, and hope. It also reminds us that we are called to be a light to the world as we reflect the light of God's grace to others (Isa 42:6). The progression in the lighting of the candles symbolizes the various aspects of our waiting experience. As the candles are lighted over the four week period, it also symbolizes the darkness of fear and hopelessness receding and the shadows of sin falling away as more and more light is shed into the world. The flame of each new candle reminds the worshippers that something is happening, and that more is yet to come. Fi-nally, the light that has come into the world is plainly visible as the Christ candle is lighted at Christmas, and worship-pers rejoice over the fact that the promise of long ago has been realized.
Th_ Br[^_n St__pl_ D_]_m\_r/Holi^[y Issu_ 2009
KEEPI�G ADVE�T Grace and peace to you from God our Creator and Christ Jesus whose advent we await.
I greet you in this Season of Expectation on behalf of the West Ohio Conference Center staff, the district su-
perintendents and the pastors and laity of nearly 1,200 congregations in the West Ohio Conference.
The familiar Advent hymn, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” (one of my favorites) perfectly captures the
spirit of this season. Even though the risen Christ is among us, and we dwell in His presence, still we long
for a nearer and greater vision of Jesus and his return among us – the Second Advent.
Bernard of Clairvaux, the great twelfth century Cistercian abbot, once wrote about Advent in his Sermons on
the Song of Songs:
“During my frequent ponderings on the burning desire with which the patriarchs longed for the incarnation
of Christ, I am stung with sorrow and shame… Very soon now there will be great rejoicing as we celebrate
the feast of Christ’s birth. But how I wish it were inspired by his birth! All the more, therefore, do I pray
that the intense longing of those men of old, their heartfelt expectation, may be enkindled in me.”Where in
all of our seasonal “holiday” celebrations, we might wonder, is Jesus?
Confronted with an increasingly secular celebration – a Christless Christmas – it would be easy to sigh along
with Bernard: “But how I wish it were inspired by his birth!”
But the abbot points us away from such lamentation and dismay and towards a more positive road – a path-
way I encounter in every healthy, vital congregation. For us, even if for no one else, the Advent season is:
• A time when our longing for God can be enkindled in us.
• A time when a restlessness and homelessness is stirred up in our souls and we are reminded that we are
“strangers and foreigners on the earth” (Hebrews 11:13), whose only true home is in God.
• A time when the fires of our passion for Christ can be stoked until they blaze.
• A time when we seek nothing other than to “love God with all of your heart, and with all of your soul,
and with all of your mind, and with all of your strength…and love your neighbor as yourself”
(Mark 12:30-31).
A time when we are reminded to keep Advent every day of our lives.
I rejoice and give thanks that hundreds of United Methodist congregations in the West Ohio Conference dis-
play an intense longing for the incarnation of Christ and enkindle such a spirit within their members and
constituents. For it is this spirit of longing for and seeking God that undergirds our mission of making and
equipping disciples of Jesus Christ. For it is this spirit of longing for and seeking God that calls us to life in
the Kingdom – the radical and transformative reality which Jesus came to inaugurate.
I pray that you will keep Advent in your life during this season and every day of every season.
To the Body of the Church,To the Body of the Church,To the Body of the Church,To the Body of the Church,
It’s Christmas! A time of good cheer and holiday It’s Christmas! A time of good cheer and holiday It’s Christmas! A time of good cheer and holiday It’s Christmas! A time of good cheer and holiday
festivities, a time for singing carols and celebrat-festivities, a time for singing carols and celebrat-festivities, a time for singing carols and celebrat-festivities, a time for singing carols and celebrat-
ing with family and friends. Twinkling lights, ing with family and friends. Twinkling lights, ing with family and friends. Twinkling lights, ing with family and friends. Twinkling lights,
gling bells, wassail, freshgling bells, wassail, freshgling bells, wassail, freshgling bells, wassail, fresh----cut pinecut pinecut pinecut pine----these are the these are the these are the these are the
sights and sounds and smells of Christmas!sights and sounds and smells of Christmas!sights and sounds and smells of Christmas!sights and sounds and smells of Christmas!
Yet as the world celebrates the holiday, may the Yet as the world celebrates the holiday, may the Yet as the world celebrates the holiday, may the Yet as the world celebrates the holiday, may the
true meaning of Christmas never be lost. The birth true meaning of Christmas never be lost. The birth true meaning of Christmas never be lost. The birth true meaning of Christmas never be lost. The birth
of Jesus is our reason for the season. The son of God of Jesus is our reason for the season. The son of God of Jesus is our reason for the season. The son of God of Jesus is our reason for the season. The son of God
came to give us hope and peace, to show us His Fa-came to give us hope and peace, to show us His Fa-came to give us hope and peace, to show us His Fa-came to give us hope and peace, to show us His Fa-
thers love and compassion for everyone.thers love and compassion for everyone.thers love and compassion for everyone.thers love and compassion for everyone.
Everything I need to know about Christmas I Everything I need to know about Christmas I Everything I need to know about Christmas I Everything I need to know about Christmas I learned from Jesus . Christmas learned from Jesus . Christmas learned from Jesus . Christmas learned from Jesus . Christmas is all about seeing is all about seeing is all about seeing is all about seeing
Jesus in every tradition, every celebration, and Jesus in every tradition, every celebration, and Jesus in every tradition, every celebration, and Jesus in every tradition, every celebration, and
every moment of the Christmas season.every moment of the Christmas season.every moment of the Christmas season.every moment of the Christmas season.
JOY TO THE WORLD! JOY TO THE WORLD! JOY TO THE WORLD! JOY TO THE WORLD!
THE LORD Has COME!THE LORD Has COME!THE LORD Has COME!THE LORD Has COME!
COMMUNICATION TEAMCOMMUNICATION TEAMCOMMUNICATION TEAMCOMMUNICATION TEAM
Remember our sick and shut in your daily prayers. A kind card or a simple note could brighten a person’s day;
take moment and let our members know that they are in the Braden Family daily prayers
Allen, Florene
2545 Amara Dr. Toledo, OH 43615
Allen, George Jr. Whitehouse Country Manor 11239 Waterville St. Whitehouse, OH 43571
Beene, Asia (Ronya): 3353 Parkwood Av. Toledo, OH 43610
Bussey, Lincoln Sr. Lutheran Home-Assisted Living 2519 Seaman St. Toledo, OH 43605
Coleman, Mildred 2341 Old Stone Ct. #1 Toledo, OH 43614
Young, Harold Heartland-Holly Glenn 4294 Monroe St.
Th_ Br[^_n St__pl_ D_]_m\_r/Holi^[y Issu_ 2009
Bobbie’s Kitchen
5833 Dorr Street
Toledo, OH
Bobbie’s Kitchen pre-
pared 25 dinners for
our sick and shut-in
and families in need.
Braden United Meth-
odist Men would like
to extend their grati-
tude and appreciation.
We would like to end our Newsletter and the year with a special prayer:
Loving father help us to remember the birth of Jesus, which we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of
the shepherds and the wisdom of the wise men. Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let
kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting. Deliver us form evil by the blessing which Christ
brings and teach us to be merry with clean hearts. May the Christmas morning make us happy to be your children and
the Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus’ sake Amen.
Words of Wisdom
Advent means a heart that is awake
and ready.
Randall Jones, Jr.
A Christmas Prayer
O God our loving father, help us rightly to remem-
ber the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the song of the
angels, the gladness of the shepherds and the worship of
the wise men.
Close the door on hate and open the door of love
all over the world. Deliver us from evil by the blessing that
Christmas brings, and teach us to be merry with clear
hearts.
May the Christmas morning make us happy to be
thy children and the Christmas evening bring us to our
beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for
Jesus’ sake. Amen.
-Robert Louis Stevenson
Wishing you all a very
Merry & Blessed Christmas!
-From the Church Office Staff
Braden is collecting hotel samples to develop hygiene
kits for the homeless shelter...so bring in your sample
size soap, shampoo, toothpaste, lotions, etc.
For more information see Marie Bush. Celebration of Life….for Rebecca Stewart
2:30 pm—Today! (Sunday, December 6th)
Come have dinner with a member of our
Braden Christian family
Senior Plaza Bldg.
2520 Monroe, Bldg. A., Toledo, OH
(across from the Toledo Museum of Art)
Th_ Br[^_n St__pl_ D_]_m\_r/Holi^[y Issu_ 2009
Whisp_rs from th_ PulpitWhisp_rs from th_ PulpitWhisp_rs from th_ PulpitWhisp_rs from th_ Pulpit
"Leading with The Lord's Prayer, eleven year old Alysia Hill gave the message for Youth Sunday, November 2009. Her question for the morning was "Why Do You Come to Church?" Alysia gave three reasons why she comes to church. First, because she wants to learn about God. Second, she wants to be with others who are Christian, especially youth her age and finally, Alysia loves God! She gave several examples of what she has learned about being a Christian, such as learning the books of the bible. She asked "Why do you see some people at church all the time, and others only every now and then?" Alysia spoke of her desire to continue to learn about God by attending Sunday School, Morning Wor-ship, UMYF and church sponsored field trips. Her love for God was expressed by telling how others show love to her and how she shares her love in return. She referred to 1 Corinthians 14:19 which reads: "Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue." Alysia is the daughter of Artesia Mays, great-niece of Laverne Enochs and cousin to Mary Lawrence. The service was closed with a spirit-filld Benediction by Tyler Cox, family member of Lois Lipkins."
Submitted by Yolanda Durden
YOUTH COR�ER
Braden’s Angel Tree
gifts should be brought to the church
by December 15th.
Gifts will be delivered
December 21st & December 22nd.
For more information
see Sis. Eva Tucker-Lingo
or give her a call at 419-531-5901.
Alysia Hill
LaDarius Mays & Najee Lamb
Youth Sunday
�ovember 29, 2009
Braden Sunday School
Christmas Program!
The Sunday School Christmas Program will
be on Sunday, December 20st during our
morning worship service.
“Christians’
Th_ Br[^_n St__pl_ D_]_m\_r/Holi^[y Issu_ 2009
The word for this issue is
JESUS
He was born in a obscure village,
the Child of a peasant woman.
He grew up in another obscure
village where he worked in a car-
penter shop until he was thirty.
Then for three years he was an
itinerant preacher.
He never had a family or owned
a home. He never set foot inside
a big city. He never traveled 200
miles from the place He was
born. He never wrote a book or
held an office. He did none of
the things that usually accom-
pany greatness.
Nineteen centuries have come
and gone, and today He is the
central figure for much of the hu-
man race. All the armies that
ever marched and all of the na-
vies that ever sailed and all the
parliaments that ever sat and all
the kings that ever reigned, put
together, have not affected the
lives of man upon this earth as
powerfully as this. . . .
Kwanzaa (KWAN-za) is a seven-day Afri-can-American cultural festival that is ob-served from December 26 to January 1. It is the only nationally celebrated, indige-nous, non-heroic African-American holiday in the United States. During this time, fami-lies explore, share and celebrate the Afri-can-American community, their culture and their history. It's a time for black Americans to recognize their African roots, and honor the achievements of their people through-out history. People across the globe have observed Kwanzaa since 1966, when Dr. Maulana Karenga founded the cultural event. Dr. Karenga, then a professor at California State University at Long Beach, wanted to create a holiday about bringing black Americans together and strengthening the bonds between black people.
Seven Symbols of Kwanzaa
There are also seven symbols of Kwanzaa that
correspond with the seven days and the special
principles associated with them. Read below to
find out what each symbol represents.
1. Mazao (mah-ZAH-oh) - the crops. As the
result of the harvest, Mazao represents produc-
tive labor.
2. Mkeka (m-KAY-kah) - the mat. This is the
symbol of tradition and the foundation on
which all the other symbols rest.
3. Kinara (kee-<AH-rah) - the candleholder.
This symbolizes the importance of African an-
cestors.
4. Muhindi (moo-HEE<-dee) - the corn. Mu-
hindi represents children and the future; it may
also be referred to as Vibunzi, which means
one ear of corn.
5. Zawadi (zah-WAH-dee) - the gifts. The full
meaning encompasses gifts given as an act of
sharing and a labor of love.
6. Kikombe cha Umoja (kee-KOHM-bay chah
oo-MOH-jah) - the unity cup. This represents
family unity and community union.
7. Mishumaa Saba (mee-shoo-MAH SAH-ba)
- the seven candles. Mishumaa Saba symbolize
the Seven Principles, or %guzo Saba.
Th_ Br[^_n St__pl_ D_]_m\_r/Holi^[y Issu_ 2009
The Steeple Braden’s newsletter is published on a quarterly basis. The purpose for our newsletter is important for our
